Lend a Hand

RI President in Taiwan

Warmest Welcome

RIP Aide :

PDG Jackson S.L. Hsieh 

     In a happy atmosphere of Chinese New Year, it is the ultimate honor of the seven districts and all the Rotarians in Taiwan to have RI President Jonathan Majiyagbe visiting Taiwan, who calls upon Lend a Hand. I would like to express my profound gratitude and bid a hearty welcome to our President here.  

     In the 2003 International Assembly in Anaheim, I was appointed by President Jonathan as training leader. In my contacts with him during the assembly, I was greatly impressed by his love of his home land and humanistic spirit. He is not only concerned with the issues of hunger, diseases, and education that developing countries face, but also noticed the importance of family ethics and social harmony. We are most blessed to have such a peace-loving gentleman, as RI President Jonathan Majiyagbe, to lead Rotarians worldwide in collective efforts towards promoting Rotary movement.  

    The 2004 Rotary International Convention will be held in Osaka, Japan in  coming May. It is a pleasure for me to have been appointed as advisor to its organizing committee.  Therefore it is my duty to promote the Osaka convention and encourage Rotarians in Taiwan to attend it. I believe there will be at least 1,500 Rotarians and spouses attending the splendid convention.  

      It is widely believed that the visit of President Jonathan Majiyagbe to Taiwan will add momentum to the Rotary movement. On this occasion, I would like to urge all the Rotarians in Taiwan to Lend a Hand by means of devoting our resources and energy to the cause of humanity well-being and everlasting world peace.

RI President Jonathan B. Majiyagbe’s Visit to Taiwan

RIP Dide PDG Jackson, D3520

    It is my honor to have been assigned as Aide to RI President Jonathan B. Majiyagbe during his visit to Taiwan. I am impressed by the kindness and love of President Jonathan as the top leader of Rotary. 

  President Jonathan was originally scheduled to arrive at the CKS airport at 9:25 pm, January 25. However, due to the delay of the scheduled flight, he didn’t board the Eva Air flight at Bangkok. Instead, he boarded a Thai airline airplane. Therefore, it was already past midnight when he arrived at the CKS airport. He was impressed by the warmest welcome at the airport given by DG Fred, DG Syo-Tei, DG Color, DG Archi with 50 fellow Rotarians he mobilized from District 3500, and I. When President Jonathan arrived at the Grand Hyatt Taipei at 2 o’clock in the early morning, PRIVP Gary, his spouse Corinna, and CP J.C., who had been waiting for a long time, had done the check-in procedure for him. 

    Next day, PRIVP Gary invited President Jonathan to the Din Tai Fung snack restaurant for lunch. President Jonathan said it was the most unique lunch he ever had. In the afternoon, he visited the Sing Kong Department Store building across the Taipei railway station to take a panoramic view of Taipei and visit the department store. After that, he went to the CKS Memorial Hall to see the honor guard’s handing over of duty. He was impressed by the magnificence of the CKS Memorial Hall. Then, he went to the 101 Building to visit the department store. He highly praised its interior design as higher than the world level and the buying power of the huge crowds of customers. In the evening, Chang Bei-Chi, head of the Africa Department, Ministry of Foreign Affairs and a Rotarian Ambassador of the Rotary Club of Shi-lin, invited President Jonathan and other fellow Rotarians to have dinner at the Fareast Hotel. Both the host and the guests enjoyed a wonderful evening. 

    The third day, January 27, was a most busy day to President Jonathan. He participated in the trees planting activity at the Rotary Centennial Park organized by District 3480. The activity was done amidst raining by President Jonathan, DG Fred, chairman PDG Y.H., and more than two dozen Rotarians. President Jonathan appreciated District 3480’s providing of such an excellent park to the community. At ten o’clock, President Jonathan visited Mayor of the San-Chung City at his office and attended the presentations on the Land a Hand to Africa project by District 3490 DG Syo-Tei and the community project by District 3500 DG Archi. President Jonathan thanked heartily their kindness to Land a Hand to African countries. 

    At 2:00 pm, President Jonathan participated in the achievement exhibition of foreign mothers’ education sponsored by the Seventh Section District 3520 and the press conference at the Grand Hotel, during which AG CP Pyramid and DG Color made presentations on the development of the project and several mothers of foreign nationality also spoke of what they thought about the education they received. They showed their deep appreciation of the significant course sponsored by Rotary and hoped to merge into the local society and become a Taiwanese mother instead of a foreign mother. President Jonathan was also deeply touched by this activity. 

    At 4:30 pm, Minister of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs Eugene Y. H. Chien received at his office President Jonathan, 7 District Governors in Taiwan, PRIVP Gary, and PDG Jackson. During the meeting, the Minister talked about ROC’s assistance projects for many African countries. President Jonathan promised to give credit at international events to ROC’s contribution in helping underdeveloped countries. 

    The Intercity Meeting and Dinner organized to welcome President Jonathan began at 6:00 pm exactly. Some 600 Rotarians from the seven districts gathered at the Grand Hyatt Taipei to listen to President Jonathan’s splendid address. Ceremony Master CP Steve led the attendees to express mourning silently to Ade, the President Jonathan’s deceased spouse. The climax of the evening was the announcement that DG Color would contribute US$250,000 and DG Archi would contribute US$150,000 respectively, each with US$50,000 designated as contribution to Ade’s Fund to help children and women. About 40 Rotarians were recognized with Major Donor recognitions. Also featured were entertainments performed by Rotarians and spouses. Finally, President Jonathan took pictures with groups of Rotarians in turn. It was not until 10:30 pm that President Jonathan left the site. 

    President Jonathan talked to me that it was a most successful intercity meeting and he was so proud of and touched by the enthusiasm and contribution of Rotarians in Taiwan that at two occasions during the meeting he could hardly hold his tears. I would like to express my hearty thanks to the Organizing Committee Chairman PP J.S. and members, who held many organizing meetings, and the enthusiasm and involvement of the seven District Governors. Because of their full support, the intercity meeting turned out a big success. 

    At 7 o’clock of the early morning, January 28, President Jonathan left the hotel and arrived at the airport, making a ending to the four days’ visit to Taiwan. The visit has completely changed his view about Rotary movement in Taiwan and has left him with such a wonderful impression that he believe Rotary will have a vigorous growth in Taiwan in the future.

pick RIP Jonathan up at gate of airplane inside Customs

visiting Shin Kong Observatory

Chiang Kai-Shek Memorial Hall

Taipei 101

Attending welcome dinner hosted by Director General Patrick Chang of Department African Affairs

Warmest Welcome

Program

17: 30             Registration & Fellowship                            MC: CP Steve

18: 00             Call to Order                                                  Governor Syo-Tei, D.3490

18: 05             National Anthems of Nigeria & ROC

18: 10             Rotary Songs                                                 CP Chen

18: 17             Silence in Memory of our beloved Ade       MC: CP Steve                              

18: 20             Introduction of VIP Guests                            MC: CP Steve

18: 30             Welcome Remarks                                       Governor Plastic, D.3510

18: 35             Welcome Greetings                                      PRIVP Gary

18: 40             Introduction of Keynote Speaker                 PDG Jackson

18: 45             Keynote Speech                                            RI President Majiyagbe

19: 15             Response                                                       Governor Paul, D.3460

19: 20             Presentation of gifts                                      *Governor Fred, D.3480 &

6 Governors of Taiwan*           

19: 24             Vote of thanks                                               Governor Archi, D.3500

19: 28             Adjourn Meeting                                            Governor Compex, D.3470

19: 30             Chinese Lunar New Year Toasting             Governor Color, D.3520

Dinner Served                                               MC: CP Steve

20: 05             Recognition of Major Gift Donors                RI President Majiyagbe

20: 30             Entertainment                                                 MC: CP Steve

21: 30             End of Program / Group photos